Thomas, Hudson Combine for No-Hitter

OXFORD, Miss. - No. 8 Mizzou hit and pitched past Ole Miss to an 11-0 victory on Friday at the Ole Miss Softball Complex, using both Chelsea Thomas and Nicole Hudson to no-hit the Rebels. The Tigers were led offensively by Hudson and sophomore 3B Angela Randazzo, who both batted 2-for-2. Hudson homered, doubled and drew two walks, while Randazzo doubled, tripled and drew one walk.

The win improved Mizzou's record to 13-2 overall and 2-1 in Southeastern Conference action, while Ole Miss dropped to 18-13 (1-3 SEC).

Thomas pitched 2.0 innings, striking out four batters before giving way to Hudson when Mizzou led 6-0. Hudson picked up the win (5-0) with 3.0 innings pitched, also striking out four.

The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead on the Rebels in the first inning with freshman 2B Emily Crane and senior catcher Jenna Marston getting hit by pitches to start the game. Hudson walked to load the bases and a wild pitch brought Crane in for a 1-0 lead. Junior utility player Mackenzie Sykes drew a walk to load the bases again, and Randazzo followed with her walk to bring home Marston for Mizzou's second run.

Mizzou added more runs with scoring outbursts in the third and fourth innings. A two-out rally scored four runs in third inning action. With Sykes on base after a fielder's choice forced out Hudson for the Tigers' second out, Randazzo stroked a deep double to left center to bring around Mizzou's left fielder. A fielding error by Ole Miss scored Randazzo and sophomore SS Corrin Genovese followed with a double off the left field wall, scoring sophomore CF Kayla Kingsley and freshman RF Sarah Moore to set the score at 6-0.

Marston led off the Tigers' efforts in the fourth with a single up the middle. Hudson followed by nearly hitting her first home run of the game, with her blast bouncing back into right field off the top of the outfield wall. The effort scored Marston to set the score at 7-0. Roth made it to base safely on a fielder's choice at shortstop with junior Brianna Corwin entering afterwards as a pinch runner. The triple from Randazzo cleared the bases, giving Mizzou a 9-0 advantage. Moore singled in Mizzou's 10th run of the game to score senior IF Princess Krebs, who had pinch run for Randazzo.

In fifth inning action, Hudson launched her eighth home run of the season to push Mizzou's lead to 11-0. Hudson returned to the circle to close out the game, recording two strikeouts and sending a flyout to center field to seal the win.

Ole Miss pitcher Madi Osias took the loss (3-1), lasting 0.1 inning with two runs surrendered, one strikeout and three walks issued. Mizzou racked up nine hits in the contest, scoring six off Rebel Shelby Jo Fenter and three off Lauren Lindsey.

Mizzou continues its series with the Rebels with a 2 p.m. start on Saturday. The series will close with a 1 p.m. start on Sunday.